Turkey summons Ukrainian ambassador over attacks on two vessels in Black Sea

The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ankara following attacks on two vessels operating in the Black Sea, according to Al Jazeera on August 30. The incident took place near the Russian port of Tuapse. On August 26, a cargo ship named Lider Bordo Mavi was targeted by at least three drones, resulting in injuries to five crew members and causing the vessel to catch fire.

The vessel, which is flagged under Cameroon and operated by a Turkish company, was en route from the Turkish port of Samsun carrying fresh produce. The following day, a drone attack on another vessel, Lider Kocatepe, forced it to return to Samsun. Ambassador Celal was summoned to the ministry on August 29. The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that during the meeting, Turkey emphasized the "absolute necessity of ensuring the safety of people, property, navigation and the environment in the Black Sea."

The decision to summon the Ukrainian ambassador instead of the Russian ambassador suggests Turkey's assessment of the situation. In July, Turkey significantly decreased its oil purchases from Russian ports and plans to further reduce imports in August due to disruptions in Black Sea exports caused by drone attacks on Russian terminals in the region.